I just started on Estratest and Progesterone Cream this week and I had awful night sweats last night. The really drenching kind where you wake up soaking wet. I thought night sweats were triggered by a DROP in estrogen. Why would I be getting them even worse now that I have ADDED estrogen? I something out of balance? Does your body just need time to adjust to taking hormones because normal levels have been out of balance for a while? Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

k

Hi Kimball,

It is nice to meet you!

The exact same thing happened to me. I started on HRT and began to have the most incredible, drenching night sweats. When I stopped taking the hormones, the sweats went away.

I do not know why this happened but I have it on my list of questions for my GYN next time I see her. I would suggest a call to your prescribing doctor. Please let us all know what you learn.

Best,
Marcy

Thanks for the reply. It is nice to know I am not the only one with this problem. I was thinking the problem could be caused if the BALANCE between the estrogen and progesterone is not quite right ...but I an new to all of this and don't know what things cause what symptoms. Hopefully someone will come alone with a suggestion.

Thanks!

There are some very smart women on here and hopefully they will come on and give you the real scoop but I believe what they have said in the past is that it's a change in the estrogen level and not the amount so it should go away shortly.

Thanks CarolH. Maybe it is a CHANGE rather than a DROP that causes night sweats. It is all very confusing...and frustrating to have night sweats even worse than they were before!

Thanks.

I dont take any HRT and have moderate sweats now although they were dreadful after my ovaries were removed, for about 18 months.
Now I use estriol cream externally -a little about twice a week- and every time I do my hot sweats get worse! I also find they are much worse when I top up with testosterone which is about once a month now.
I think it is the case that a change in hormones either up or down causes flushes and its a darn nusiance!
janet c

Thanks Janet C. Esrtatest has testosterone in it too so that could be part of it I guess. I was just really surprised to find that they got worse after I began using HRT. I thought everything was supposed to get better!

On a positive note, I think I am feeling better. I guess I'll put up with sleeping with a soaked head in order to feel a little more like my old self. Maybe ithings will even out after a while

Nite sweats happen when hormones change or fluctuate, both low and high levels will trigger internal thermostat change. May be your body is adjusting to new levels.

Thanks Iradan. I keep thinking maybe my hormones are not in BALANCE or I need more of something or less of something. Do you think I just need to give myself more time to adjust?

Overall I am feeling better...I am sleeping 100% better, libido is slightly better, fatigue is better, foggy thinking is better.

But I am having nightsweats and hot flashes really bad...and each day I seem to have more of them. Yesterday was really bad...I felt like I stayed drenched all day long! It is so embarrassing. And my head and face sweat something awful so everyone knows when it is happening. It sure makes for a bad hair day! Even though I feel better overall it is not hardly worth it to put up with these hot flashes.

Also on the negative side... I have had a a headache for the last day or two and feel slightly "jittery" (for lack of a better word).

I have tried to find some info on the internet about the proper BALANCE of these hormones but I haven’t had much luck. Do any of these symptoms point to too much of something or too little of something?

Thanks for any info someone can offer.

k

Kimball
I have never used Estratest myself but if you have a look at the info on this site by Susan Rako about replacing testosterone she says emphatically that Estratest has far too much testosterone for most women. She has written a book on the subject as well called "The Hormone of Desire" of which I have a copy.
I am replacing my testosterone separately as she recommends but I have used too much in the past as its a bit trial and error. I can tell you it made me feel dire! It was a very scary experience. I would have horrendous hot flashes, headaches and worst of all dreadful anxiety and anger. Once I realised what a tiny amount I needed everything settled down. Maybe you need to see if you can get your hormones separately as it may be that the testosterone is too much for you. Once you have enough testosterone you only need a top up every now and then. I only have a dab of gel once a month.By the way using too much actually switches off your libido so its a bit counter productive. I lost interest completely when I was using too much.
janet c

Hi gals!

I am not on HRT, but in the past month or so, my night sweats have gotten worse and now I am even having hot flashes during the day (no period in two years). I was considering talking to my gyno about HRT in hopes that it might help with that...but after reading the above posts, that may not be the answer and perhaps I should leave well enough alone and deal with it.

I have bouts of bad night sweats...losing sleep, until I think I cannot take it...and then they ease off so that I get my rest and then it starts all over again. I also find that I am more weepy all the time now...any sad news item or incident will make me cry.

Oh yeah and then there is the struggle with losing weight....ugh...it just will not come off and stay off...yo-yo's.

Why did I think that when I reached menopause, this would all be better and not worse?

I am down to the lowest dosage of HRT and only taking 1 pill every 4th or 5th day, I took one yesterday, and shortly after got the beginnings of migraine. I was out of comission all day. And alot of hot flashes! I don't have ovaries either, and am wondering what the difference is for women who are going through natural vs we who have been taken off HRT but have had ovaries surgically removed. I have appt. with gyno this week, and am ready at this point to beg for antidepressant! I've been going through this for 4-5 months, and from what I am learning in this site, this could go on for years? Oh, no way!
Linda